Current Read: The Shampoo Effect

The Shampoo Effect

Author: Jenny Jackson

July 2026 Read with Jenna Pick

I’m finally cracking open the book that’s been all over my feed lately: Jenny Jackson’s The Shampoo Effect, admittedly a bit late. After loved-up buzz from Jenna Bush Hager’s book club and rave reviews, I couldn’t resist bumping it to the top of my stack.

Set in a picturesque Massachusetts coastal town, the novel follows writer Caroline Lash as she gets swept up with a charming local named Van—and quickly tangled in his tight-knit, lifelong circle of childhood friends. When an unexpected pregnancy rattles the group’s delicate equilibrium, Caroline finds herself on the outside looking in, sparking a chain reaction of buried secrets, messy loyalties, and midlife growing pains.

It’s witty, juicy, and taps into that complicated, tender reality of long-held friendships and what happens when the rhythms of our younger years clash with adulthood. Since I am on vacation, I have staked out my favorite pool lounge chair to get comfy in —I’ll share full thoughts once I turn the last page.

Are you reading this one alongside the Read with Jenna club, or is it already sitting on your nightstand? Let me know your spoiler-free first impressions below!

Update: Finished this book 8/20. I would give this book a 4-star rating. It wasn’t what I expected, and the ending was surprising after I thought I knew what was coming. Do I think it is something I would read on repeat? No. It didn’t give me all the feels I was expecting from the reviews.